10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
7 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
56,378 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2008 Scion tC:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #9

Feb 242018

tC

  • 135,000 miles
This vehicle was just involved in an accident, rear-ending the car in front, the front end of the vehicle is demolished, the radiator and everything crushed and slammed back, fluids leaking from everything, even buckled the passenger door, the air bags did not deploy. The vehicle in front of this vehicle's airbags deployed. The police officers on the scene could not understand why they did not deploy.

- Roy, WA, USA

problem #8

Jan 062017

tC

  • 156,000 miles
The contact owned a 2008 Scion Tc. While driving 25 mph, the contact's vehicle crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to an independent facility. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 156,000.

- Dothan, AL, USA

problem #7

Dec 252015

tC

  • 85,000 miles
With the vehicle running, passenger exited the vehicle and closed the door. The airbag curtain and seat airbag deployed. Toyota kept the car for 65 days. The letter sent to me stated they found nothing wrong with the car and they were sorry for the mishap.

- Monroe, NJ, USA

problem #6

Oct 072011

tC 4-cyl

  • 30,002 miles
While driving on a country road, which are everywhere in South central il, my driver side-curtain airbag deployed. The road is one which I've driven hundreds of times with no problems. The local Toyota dealers regional manager told me that I had damaged the car by striking a"pothole" and that "pothole" caused the side-curtain airbag deployment. I had just had new tires installed the week before, so I returned to the tire shop and indeed my rims were slightly bent, but, they were still perfectly in balance. Toyota claims that these "bent rims", although they are still perfectly balanced, caused my side curtain airbag to go off.I have had several of the other issues that are in this database for the 08 Scion Tc. The drive by wire throttle has went rouge on me several times( unintended acceleration and sometimes a delay in acceleration).slight bumps such as "slow-down" strips unsettle the car greatly also. The stock tires came apart in less than 30K miles. Finally, the throttle is hair-trigger off the line which makes for nightmarish winter driving. This will be my last Toyota.

- Mattoon, IL, USA

problem #5

Jul 122011

tC

  • 29,000 miles
The contact owned a 2008 Scion Tc. The contact stated that while driving 30 mph the vehicle crashed into the side of another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy during the crash. The vehicle was destroyed, but no injuries were reported. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not traveling fast enough to have the air bags deploy during a crash. The failure mileage was 29,000.

- Stowe, PA, USA

problem #4

May 112010

tC

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Scion Tc. The contact stated while driving at approximately 30 mph, the vehicle was involved in a crash and the air bags did not deploy upon impact. A police report was filed on scene and the driver sustained minor unknown injuries. The vehicle was towed to a local repair shop where the contact was awaiting an assessment of the damages. The failure and current mileages were 60,000.

- Avon, IN, USA

problem #3

Mar 102010

tC 4-cyl

  • miles
My daughter came around a curve and swerved to avoid impact. She could not remember all of the accident. My wife and I went back to the scene and attempted to go through a re-creation of the accident. She swerved to avoid a deer, went off the road into a high embankment. It appears she went on two wheels over a field drainage pipe. Then head on into the embankment. That force appeared to throw the car upward on it's nose, on the drivers side front wheel area. It appears that the car then continued to flip towards the drivers side, causing the sunroof to catch the ground and caused a type of leverage. That caused the car to continue the roll. It appears that, the car did finish the roll and landed directly on the full drivers side of the car. Then bounced up enough to land back down on 4 wheels. Not a single airbag deployed! the fire, ems, and even the adjuster said that at least the passenger airbags should have deployed. Not a one deployed. My daughter had a huge painful bruise on her leg. Whiplash, concussion, painful ribs and back. Now she will not drive in a Scion and does at times get anxiety attack in cars. I could go on longer but, I'm afraid that there isn't enough room here. We are now attempting a settlement dialog with Scion. Unfortunately they appear to be dragging their feet here. We are open to seeking a lawyer and press interviews. Please beware with the 2009 Scion Tc for safety. Updated IVOQ 03/09/12. Updated 03/12/12 updated IVOQ 03/14/12

- Smithsburg, MD, USA

problem #2

Aug 222008

tC

  • 5,900 miles
After being involved in a collision where the entire passenger side of my 08 Scion Tc was damaged none of my air bags deployed. The other car hit me behind the front wheel and then turned so both cars were facing the same way, slammed against each other. The other vehicle was an 03 olds Alero whose airbags deployed. If this car has such a great safety rating for front and side impacts where were the air bags. The seat belt locked causing much pain and discomfort to my left shoulder. This collision caused 6500 $ worth of damage, so you tell me how serious it was.

- Marrero, LA, USA

problem #1

Mar 222008

tC 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 6,500 miles
Motor vehicle hit a bump in the road and rolled over and hit a light pole. Airbags failed to deploy to protect occupant.

- Chandler, AZ, USA